Switch.



PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

J. H. BYRON.

'SWITOH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.13, 1904.

PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

J. H. BYRON.

SWITCH.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN.13, 1904.

2 SHBETS-SHEIHT 2.

lqdoejes:

UNITED STATES fatented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. BYRON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLES WAGNER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,646, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed January 13, 1904. Serial No. 189,072.

and side of the rail.

My invention relates to that type of track structure where the switch-points are moved vertically rather than laterally, and by means of my improvements I secure a structure which prevents snow and other substances getting between the point and the rail and obstructing the movement of the point. Such obstruction requires frequent visitation of the structure and necessitates removal, requiring time and causing delay.

In accordance with my invention I have devised a point the top of which when in its inoperative position is located sufliciently below the tread of the rail with which it coacts as to allow the flange of a wheel passing the point to contact only with the main rail, said point when in its operative position being raised to place its tread substantially level with the tread of the main rail. It will therefore be understood that the point of my novel switch has imparted to it a vertical rather than a lateral movement and that the point where it meets the rail occupies at all times a position close to the side of the rail, thus preventing the entrance of snow between the point and the rail.

The switch-point in my invention rests on a point-lifter, herein shown as a bar having a series of cam or wedge shapedfeet that coact with a series of inclines or cam-surfaces or shoes sustained by or forming part of the sleepers, said surfaces or shoes for the best results being of metal and applied to the sleepers. At each side of the point is a guide-bar that prevents lateral movement of the point, but permits vertical movement thereof. I also provide means whereby the point may be locked in both its operative and inoperative position.

Figure 1 in plan view represents a sufficient portion of main rails and two switch-points to illustrate my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section chiefly to show a point in its operative position with relation to the side rail to divert a car-wheel from the main track onto the rail of a side track. Fig. 3 shows the same point in its inoperative position. Fig. 4 is a cross-section in the line at, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is also a crosssection, but in the line at. Fig. 6 is an inner side view of one of the pointlifter guides D detached, and Fig. 7 shows the slot in the endmost shoe of the point-lifter.

Referring to the drawings, A represents two rails constituting, let us consider, the main track of a railway, and B the tracks of a siding or branch, the portion of the track beyond the junction common to both being inv dicated by S S. These rails are sustained on a series of sleepers A, of any usual shape and material, the rails being connected w1th the sleepers in usual manner. To insure cars going from track A onto track B, it is necessary to employ switch-points. In my invention I employ, as stated, points C C, that have a vertical rather than a lateral movement, the point C or C being elevated, as shown by dotted lines, Figs. 4 and 5, when in its operative position and being depressed when in its inoperative position. The point C is shown in its inoperative position and the point C in its operative position. These points are made from rails having substantially the same width of flange and tread as the rails A and B; but the web of the pointrail is preferably about one-half the height of the web of said main and side rails. One end of each point is beveled, so that that end of each point may come close to the under side of the tread of the rail when the point occupies its operative position, the flange of the wheel contacting with the beveled side of the point.

In accordance with my invention I provide each sleeper with a shoe a, shown as composed of metal, preferably shaped to hook over the sleeper and having an inclined portion a, up which may ride the leading end of feet I), connected with and forming part of a point-lifter 1), shown as a long bar, one end of which is connected with part of some suitable switch point moving means, herein shown as levers c and c, said levers being suitably jointed to an actuating-rod 0 that may derive its movement from any switch mechanism now commonly used either in connection with changing switches from any interlocking tower or from a switch-stand. The provision of the shoes with the inclined portions upon the sleepers forming a tie-plate constitutes a simple and strong construction. This enables the point-lifter with its inclined feet to cooperate with the inclined shoes in elevating the point-rail, without requiring any expensive construction of point-rail, the point-rail being simply rolled in the usual form.

The under side of each point will have connected. with or forming part of it a series of pocket-pieces cl, having holes (1 for the reception of actuators a, (see Fig. 4,) represented as a series of lovers mounted each on a stud e, the opposite ends of said. levers entering pockets connected with the opposite switch-points'C C, so that when one switchpoint is put into its operative position the levers will aid in putting the opposite switchpoint in its inoperative position. The pocketpieces are so constructed as to leave a space between their upper sides and the under side of each switch-point, in which space the respective point-lifters are free to slide. This feature of means positively acting to secure the depression of one switch-point upon the elevation of the opposite switch-point is a very important feature of the invention. The preferred. form illustrated of centrallypivoted levers connecting two switch-points will be found to secure this end; but equiva lent mechanisms may be employed so long as the positive depression of one switch-point is secured upon the elevation of the other.

Each switch-point is embraced. at its opposite sides by guides D D, preferably of cast metal. The guide D, Fig. 1, is wedge shape, and that side of it which contacts with the outside rails A B (shown in Fig. 1) is somewhat rounded to fit into the concaved recesses of said rails between the under sides of the tread and the flange; but the opposite side of said guide next the switchpoint and the inner side of the guide D is provided with a series of spaces 9 g, (see Fig. 6,) separated by inclines g When the edges of the feet 7), extended from the sides of the point-lifter beyond the lower flanges of the point, enter the spaces g, the point-lifter stand is in position to maintain the switch-point in its operative position, and when said point-lifter is moved so that the edges of said feet are drawn off the shoes of the sleepers into spaces g the point lifter holds the switch-pointin its inoperative position. The guides D have depending flanges m, that fit between the sleepers, spaces m between said flanges embracing the shoes mounted on the sleepers.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the point C is represented in its inoperative position, the lifter having been moved in the direction of the arrow thereon, Fig. 1, to withdraw the feet of said lifterfrom the shoes. Fig. 2, however, shows the point in its operative position, the lifter having been moved in the direction shown by the arrow, so as to place the feet thereof on the shoes.

The space between adjacent sleepers, on which are located the levers 6, will have covers F, one of which is partially shown only in Fig. 1. These covers and the depending flanges m prevent snow and dust entering between said sleepers, that would tend to obstruct the movement of the levers e.

To insure the proper level of the abutting ends of the heels of the point-rails with the contiguous ends of the main or branch rails, I have slotted the endmost foot of the pointlifters, (see Fig. 2,) as at n, (see Fig. 7,) so that when a lifter is moved to put a point into its operative position said slot will embrace the web of the rail and overlap the flange of the rail, and in this condition the weight of a car passing the point is sustained through said foot and lifter by both the rail and point, thus insuring a proper joint.

Believing myself to be the inventor of novel improvements in a switch in which the points have imparted to them a substantially vertical rather than a lateral movement, this invention is not limited to the exact means shown for effecting this novel movement of the point, but instead I consider as within the scope of my invention any equivalent means for moving the points to effect the results hereinafter named.

I have filed another application, Serial No. 241,184, on January 16, 1905, for a trackcrossing which embodies the main improve ments covered by the claims herein.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by- Letters Patent, is

1. In a switch, two pair of rails AA, BB, one rail of each pair sustained at opposite ends of the sleepers, two points, one abutting the end of one of the rails A and the other the end. of one of the rails B, the tapering ends of said points contacting substantially with a rail of the pair other than the pair one of which its larger end abuts, means to raise one of said points throughout its length and lower the opposite point simultaneously, a series of centrally-pivoted, vertically-swingin g levers connecting said points and insuring the opposite vertical movement thereof.

ITO

2. In a switch, main and side track rails, a point located between one rail of the main track and a rail of the side track, another point located between the other rails of the side and main tracks, slidable. lifters parallel with and sustaining both of said tracks, said lifters being provided on their lower sides with a plurality of inclined feet, means to slide said lifters to efiect the raising and lowering of the points sustained thereby.'

3. I11 a switch, a point, a slidable lifter parallel with and sustaining the point throughout its length, said lifter having on its under surface a plurality of inclined feet, a plurality of shoes adjacent to the sleepers and provided with inclined faces to co6perate with said inclined feet, means to slide said lifter under said point in the direction of the length thereof whereby the feet of said lifter cooperate with said shoes and lift the entire point uniformly, putting the same into its operative position.

4. In a switch, point-lifters having a lurality of inclined feet, a point sustaine by each of said lifters, a series of shoes, and means to slide said lifters under said points, said lifters when moved in one direction putting their respective points into their operative positions, and in the other direction into their inoperative positions, and means to lock said lifters in their extreme positions and hold the points in either their operative or inoperative positions.

5. In a switch, main and side track rails, a

pair of switch-points, point-lifters parallel with and sustaining said points, levers loosely connected at their opposite ends with said points, and means for sliding said lifters to lift one or the other of said points, said levers insuring the simultaneous movement of the other point and lifter.

6. In a switch, main and side rails, a series of sleepers, point -lifting points sustained thereby, and guides embracing opposite sides of said points, one of said guides having depending flanges to enter the spaces between the sleepers crossed by said lifters, whereby snow and other matter is prevented from getting under the lifters between adjacent sleepers.

7. In a switch, main and side track rails, point-lifters having feet one of which is slotted to embrace the web of a main or side track rail and overlap the flange thereof, combined with points sustained by said lifters, and means to move said lifters under said point that a proper joint may be effected between the end of the rail and the heel of a oint when in its operative position with reation to a rail.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. BYRON.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, CHARLES WAGNER. 

